ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book draws on the work of English for academic purposes (EAP) and academic literacies to argues that writing in the academy requires a deep awareness of the complex relationship between language and the social and cultural context in which a text resides. It traces the long-term development of a multi-disciplinary EAP writing program at Purdue University in the United States. The book discusses the challenges of genre instruction in the academic writing classroom that will be of interest to a wide readership, including, of course, those involved in second language writing teacher education. It deals with an outline of research and scholarship on writing using sources to date, and the shift in attention in recent years from issues of legitimacy to instruction and skill development.
